Seven-run innings are just sort of part of Seattle Mariners baseball now, I guess. After going a month without scoring seven runs in a game, the Mariners got some negative press. They’ve responded to that by obsessively putting together high-scoring frames, as evidenced by last night’s five-run ninth and today’s seven-run fourth. This approach is wonderfully fun and does wonders to a team’s ability to win baseball games.
ForChris Youngit was a “throwback” start, meaning he walked (way) more than he struck out while lasting under four innings and allowing a few runs. 3.2 frames, five walks, two strikeouts, seven hits, three earned runs. That’s maybe not enough runs to qualify as a disaster, but then again that’s more onLloyd McClendonthan it is Young.
Young pitched terribly, but luckily limited the damage. He owes a lot of that line toTom Wilhelmsen, who got the last out in the fourth after Young stuck him with a bases-loaded jam.
But by the time Wilhelmsen came in for some early-innings relief, the Mariners already were holding onto a big lead. That’s becauseBrandon Workmanwas unable to take the advice of every pregame show ever and “avoid the big inning.” We’re being spoiled by this little thing called timing right now. Timely hitting isn’t particularly predictable, but it sure is fun as hell when it shows up.
Kendrys MoralesandKyle Seagerwere the first two batters in the fourth, each hitting a single.Chris Denorfiathen doubled, scoring Morales. Every time Morales successfully runs from one base to another I rub my eyes. Dude is unbelievably slow.
Endy Chavezstruck out, butChris Taylorsingled to score Seager. Taylor stole third, then scored on aJesus Sucresingle.Austin Jacksonsingled to move Sucre to second, andDustin Ackleyblasted a three-run home run into the left field seats. Next time try avoiding the big inning, Brandon Workman.
With Young having sucked super bad, it was up to the bullpen to keep things together. So what did they do? Combine to throw 5.1 innings of two-hit ball, with one walk andelevenstrikeouts. Five of those came fromYoervis Medina, who pitched the final two frames and looked as good as he ever possibly could.
But for the sake of giving credit where credit is due, here’s the line for Boston’s bullpen: 5.2 innings, no hits, no walks, five strikeouts. If you like watching dominant pitching, today’s game was an unexpectedly good source.
Let’s take a moment here and do some scoreboard-watching. What’s been up with the Detroit Tigers lately? Well, last night they lost to the Minnesota Twins. Embarrassing for them, since the Twins are terrible. But here’s the best part – they lost 20-6, and today they play a doubleheader.
Game one’s in the books, and want to guess the final score? Okay, you don’t, so I’ll just take the pleasure of telling you the Twins wonthisone 14-2. So the Mariners are a game and a half up in the wild card race, with the reeling Tigers still set to play one more tonight.
Hisashi Iwakumavs.Allen Webster, tomorrow at 10:35am. Twelve games over .500! The Mariners are twelve games over .500. The Texas Rangers, by point of comparison, have won twelve games this year. That’s incredible! Wow!
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